The Human Services-Board Certified Practitioner Credential Sets Standards for Those in Helping Professions

The Center for Credentialing & Education (CCE), an NBCC affiliate, established the Human Services-Board Certified Practitioner (HS-BCP) credential with help from the National Organization for Human Services (NOHS) and the Council for Standards in Human Service Education (CSHSE). The purpose of the certification is to verify the practical knowledge of individuals with experience working in helping professions, lend credibility, and help advance their careers through comprehensive training and successful completion of the Human Services-Board Certified Practitioner Examination (HS-BCPE).

The NOHS defines the field of human services professionals broadly, as individuals who help others “function as effectively as possible in the major domains of living.” They work in many settings and include counselors, educators, community outreach workers, mentors, sociologists, social workers, corrections officers, personal care providers, and others in supportive roles.

Eligibility to earn the HS-BCP is based on a candidate’s experience and education, including successful completion of the HS-BCPE. Applicants must have 350 verified hours of postgraduate human services work experience (with some exceptions); and a bachelor’s or higher degree in human services or a related field from an institutionally accredited college or university or state-approved community or junior college. Individuals with degrees in fields other than human services, counseling, social work, psychology, marriage and family therapy, or criminal justice may also be eligible based on their coursework in specific content areas.

Larence Kirby, PhD, NCC, HS-BCP, LPCMH, owns a private counseling practice and is also an academic counselor for veterans and service members at Delaware Technical Community College. He earned the HS-BCP credential in 2023.

“Achieving my HS-BCP was a great pairing to my PhD in human and social services. As a National Certified Counselor, Licensed Professional Counselor, and college academic advisor, I pursued the credential to solidify my ability to assist clients and students who reached out for help,” he says. “The lessons from my HS-BCP studies increased my awareness of the human vessel, allowing me to provide guidance in resolving people's challenges. Throughout my 30 years of service in the United States Air Force, taking care of people was a daily staple, and the credential adds to a continuation of that mantra.” 

Before earning the credential, candidates who meet the eligibility requirements must also successfully complete the HS-BCPE, a psychometrically sound examination developed by human services subject matter experts and based on a 2025 national job analysis of human services practitioners. The examination will have a new content outline beginning in the spring of 2026 and is based on seven domains: History of Helping Professions; Professional Responsibilities and Ethics; Screening and Intake Assessment; Service Delivery; Service Administrative Tasks; Human Development; and Ecological Systems Perspectives. It features 12 case studies, each with 10 multiple-choice questions.

Unber Ahmad, PhD, MStat, ICE-CCP, Director of Assessments, says the new HS-BCPE has been modernized for today’s human services professionals.

“We’re excited to release this new examination that reflects the current best practices in the field and assesses human services knowledge and skill in a sound and rigorous way.” 

Learn more about eligibility requirements and how to apply for the HS-BCP here. If you have questions, email credentialinfo@cce-global.org with the subject line HS-BCP.